Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands

A myth is an image in terms of which we try to make sense of the world.

Modesty and conscientiousness receive their reward only in novels. In life they are exploited and then shoved aside.

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense.

Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain but it takes character and self control to be understanding and forgiving.

My specialty is detached malevolence.

Memory... is an internal rumour.

Television is chewing gum for the eyes.

Everyone is born a genius, but the process of living de-geniuses them.

There's nothing in the world so demoralizing as money.

There is nothing to writing. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed.

You’ll miss the best things if you keep your eyes shut.

An original idea. That can't be too hard. The library must be full of them.

One of the great penalties those of us who live our lives in full view of the public must pay is the loss of that most cherished birthright of man's, privacy.

There's real poetry in the real world. Science is the poetry of reality

Religion is like a knife: you can either use it to cut bread, or stick in someone's back.

Get off your butt and join the Marines!

Fear may come true that which one is afraid of.

Children are a wonderful gift. They have an extraordinary capacity to see into the heart of things and to expose sham and humbug for what they are.

Go on, get out. Last words are for fools who haven't said enough.

Reverence does not die with mortals, nor does it perish whether they live or die.